Monday, Oct. 5

The heartwarming Carleton University butterfly show is open, with more than 1,300 of the beautiful insects — 41 different species — fluttering about, sometimes landing on noses, every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (3 p.m. on weekends) until Oct. 12, in the steamy Nesbitt Biology Building greenhouses, Carleton University. Details available at carleton.ca/biology/annual-butterfly-show

The Ottawa SymphonyOrchestra starts its season with a Rome-themed performance, including Berlioz’ Roman Carnival, Corigliano’s Chaconne with violin solist Kerson Leong and Respighi’s Fountains of Rome and The Pines of Rome, 8 p.m., NAC. Tickets: from $36. nac-cna.ca / www.ottawasymphony.com

The Ottawa Fringe Festival lottery for 2016 opens tonight at the Town Hall meeting, where suggestions and questions will be taken, 7 to 9 p.m., Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave. ottawafringe.com

Split Tree Cocktails are on Dragon's Den looking for a partner/Nick Ghattas Photography

A young fairgoer pulls up the tail of the Dragon Wagon at the Metcalfe fair.Bruce Deachman/Ottawa Citizen

It's eight years since Monkeyjunk booked their first gig. Scott Doubt/supplied

The Ottawa Geek market and Ottawa Gaming Show are running together Oct. 3 to 4. /supplied

Comedian and writer Andrew Ivey of textsfromsuperheroes.com is one o the guests at Ottawa Geek Market on Sunday./supplied

Red Sky and the Ottawa River by Laurie de Camillis at Wall Space Gallery until Nov. 1.

Syrian refugees arrive on a dinghy after crossing from Turkey to Lesbos island, Greece, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The head of the European Union's executive says 22 of the member states should be forced to accept another 120,000 people in need of international protection who have come toward the continent at high risk through Greece, Italy and Hungary.Petros Giannakouris/AP

The Trisha Brown Dance Company performs at the NAC on October 8.

Enjoy the fall colours and maple syrup at Fulton's Sugar Bush on two more special openings. /supplied

Little Orange Man puppet show is part of the Tada! Arts Festival in Wakefield this weekend. /supplied

Moonlight after Midnight popular Fringe show by Martin Dockery and Vanessa Quesnelle is getting an encore performance.

Yoga for Round Bodies is a class open for all shapes and levels. Rama Lotus/supplied

The 13th Ottawa Community record Show and Sale is on OCt. 4. /supplied

The Ottawa Zombie Walk is on Sunday, starting at noon at City Hall. Jean Levac/Ottawa Citizen/Postmedia News

Learn to keep your hostas healthy at an event on Wednesday. /Fotolia

Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids has added a matinee show. /supplied

In September 1972, PIerre Elliott Trudeau attends a campaign rally. A new musical takes "creative license" with the former PM's life. It remains to be seen if his son, Justin, will attend. Ken Sakamoto/Postmedia News

Former Great Big Sea member Séan McCann performs at The Black Sheep Inn. David Howells/supplied

Tuesday, Oct. 6

Pierre Elliott Trudeau.

Just Watch Me, The Musical is about, as one can guess, the life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, written by Gord Carruth (who a few years back brought us a similar show about Newfoundland premier Joey Smallwood), with such songs as “The Heart Knows No Age,” “We Are the Power” and “Papa” — sung by the character ‘Justin’ at his father’s funeral, 7:30 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres. Producers Maple Leaf Productions say it is not a political piece, but a story — with a certain amount of necessary creative license. (Invitations have been sent to members of the Trudeau family, liberal politicians and others — but no confirmed attendance has been reported.) Tickets: $40, with a portion going to Wateraid Canada. centrepointetheatres.com

Those with little ones will know how useful a baby sleep seminar can be, where new parents can have questions answered and get tips — and commiserate with each other, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Rama Lotus Yoga Centre, 342 Gladstone Ave. Cost: Free. www.facebook.com

The Tony Award-winning play Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally, explores the modern reality of gay life as eight friends spend several holiday weekends together across one summer, opens at 7:30 p.m. as part of the ToTo Too company production, 7:30 p.m., Academic Hall, uOttawa. Tickets: $24-$30. www.tototoo.ca

Split Tree Cocktails

Cheer on Ottawa’s Split Tree Cocktail Company as they appear on the season premiere of Dragon’s Den on CBC at 8 p.m., to pitch for partners to help making their unique, fresh fruit cocktail syrups — like Tonic No. 3 (a personal favourite) and Grapefruit Cordial, 8 p.m. on CBC. splittree.ca

Author Will Ferguson discusses his book Road Trip to Rwanda, part buddy story, part heartbreaking look at the legacy of genocide and the hope that somehow survives, 7 p.m., Centretown United Church. (Ferguson’s most recent novel, 419, won the Giller Prize for literature.) Tickets: $10-$15. www.writersfestival.org

It seems Ottawa is a fan of mystery musical theatre as the show tonight by the Confidential Musical Theatre Project, where the audience does not know what will be performed and the actors have done no rehearsal, sold out a month in advance. Tickets for the next unknown musical piece on Jan. 16 at Arts Court go on sale today. Apparently, the time to buy is now. www.confidentialmusicaltheatreproject.com

Thursday, Oct. 8

Emil Pearlman’s sold-out Fringe show is getting encore performances.

Favourites from the Fringe Festival are getting encore performances, including this year’s sold-out comedy I think my boyfriend should have an accent by Emily Pearlman (7 p.m.) and the emotional — but fun — Moonlight After Midnight by Martin Dockery (9 p.m.) which has won acclaim since its premiere in 2014, at Arts Court until Oct. 10. Tickets: $18, $30/double bill. www.artscourt.ca

Get the latest scoop on discoveries of Sir John Franklin’s HMS Erebus from Parks Canada diver and underwater archeologist Ryan Harris, who will described the ongoing search, with Inuk Caitlyn Baikie who was on the 2014 expedition, 6:30 p.m., Canadian Museum of Nature. Tickets: Free, but donations accepted. nature.ca

What will you learn about Ottawa’s scoundrel past?

Meanwhile, Ancient history fans can learn about the grave circles of Mycenae — are they the resting place of murdered mythological Greek commander Agamemnon — or from a time even earlier?, 6 p.m, Canadian Museum of History. Free, but register at RSVP@historymuseum.ca. historymuseum.ca

Learn about Ottawa’s scoundrels and even assassins over a few pints on the Historical Tavern Tour, offered (mostly) every Thursday until it gets too cold to even move from pub to pub, starting at 7 p.m., The Laff, 24 York St. Cost: Free — but bring some cash for drinks and tips. (Food is available only at the last stop, so come prepared.) www.ottawafreetour.com

Dance legend Trisha Brown brings her company to Ottawa as part of the final leg of its three-year Proscenium Works tour, performing four contemporary pieces including Set and Rest, scored by Laurie Anderson, duet Rogues and the emotional narrative Present Tense, 7:30 p.m, NAC. Tickets: from $22. nac-cna.ca

Riverkeeping by Stewart Jones.

Four artists pay homage to the Ottawa River in a new show, Point of View, opening tonight where a portion of sales will benefit the Ottawa Riverkeeper‘s efforts to keep the river clean, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wall Space Gallery, 358 Richmond Rd. Exhibit to Nov. 1. www.wallspacegallery.ca

The Ottawa Makers Market is having an after-hours event, with local food, drink and a select group of vendors, 7 to 11 p.m., Orange Art Gallery, 290 City Centre Ave. Admission: Donations to Ottawa Food Bank accepted. ottawamakersmarket.com

Made a video?? Bring it along and have it screened in front of an actual audience at Free Spin Open Screening, 7 p.m., Club Saw. NO submission process, no fees, must be 20 min. or less in length and on a DVD/Blue-Ray disc or quicktime file on USB. First come, first served. facebook.com

Friday, Oct. 9

Dubbed the geek battle of all comedy shows, Ottawa BattleCOM is part stand-up, part nerd-fest, part theatre, where pop-culture knowledge is real currency, as Ottawa comedians take on Montreal’s offerings, hosted by BattleCOM creator Paul Ash (of CBC, Trailer Park Boys), 10 p.m., LIVEon Elgin. Tickets: $13 at the door.

October is a time for mayhem and a Thanksgiving themed murder mystery dinner at the Opinicon Dining & Resort with Kingston’s Mr. Spot Mysteries, 6 p.m., 1697 Chaffey’s Lock Rd., Elgin. Tickets: $57.52, food but not “drinky-drinks” included — and rooms are available. www.opinicon.com

Folk rockers JJ And the Pillars come to Ottawa from the wilds of Peterborough, after winning The Edge Next Big Things band award and making it onto the bill with such as The Arkells and Tokyo Police Club, 8 p.m., Zaphod Beeblebrox. Tickets: $10. spectrasonic.com

For the third time, and to the obvious joy of House of Targ, “true metal” band Metalian play with Cauchemar and Black Tower, 10 p.m. Tickets: $7. www.houseoftarg.com

Saturday, Oct. 10

See all three of the Norman Conquests trilogy.

Here’s your chance to see all of the satirical farce trilogy The Norman Conquests in back-to-back shows — or catch the one you missed — starting with Table Manners (12:30 p.m.), Living Together (4:30 p.m.) and Round and Round the Garden (8:30 p.m.), The Gladstone. Tickets: $30 each show, 15% off in package. thegladstone.ca

Author, retired professor and man of many-interests Ian Prattis will sign copies of his books including Trailing Sky Six Feathers — a call for “spiritual awakening,” in a world he says is pushed to a precipice by climate change, financial collapse and terrorism, noon to 2 p.m., Perfect Books, 258A Elgin St. www.perfectbooks.ca

The Perth Autumn Studio Tour is on all Thanksgiving weekend, with 25 artists in 6 studio locations, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, including Monday. Map at www.perthstudiotour.com.

Or, make your own beauty at the Thanksgiving Centerpiece workshop, with participants leaving with a lush arrangement, 2 to 4 p.m, Presh Floral, 78 George St. Cost: $125, includes all materials — even apple cider. preshfloral.ca

Much beloved former Great Big Sea member Séan McCann is back with more solo songs on his You Know I Love You tour, 8:30 p.m., The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield. www.theblacksheepinn.com

(Apologies in advance…) Ottawa band with the “unacceptable name, playing unacceptable music,” metalgrindcore band F**k The Facts are playing a local gig with their latest album, Desire Will Rot, and still going strong 15 years on, 9 p.m., House of Targ. Tickets: $5. www.houseoftarg.com

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